American Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. He received the award on July 21, 1897 for his actions as a captain who commanded Company H, 3rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, Union Army, on July 3, 1863 at the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The oldest son whose father was a farmer, he received his education in local schools. On August 17, 1861, four months after the outbreak of the American Civil War, he enlisted in the Pennsylvania Volunteer cavalry as a private and was soon made a 2nd lieutenant. In September 1862 he was promoted to the rank of captain and saw action at the Battle of Antietam in Maryland. The following June, his unit linked up with other Union Army forces in preparation to fight Confederate forces under General Robert E. Lee near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in what would become to be known as the historic Battle of Gettysburg (1 through 3 July 1863), one of the main turning points of the War. On the third day of the battle, he led a charge with a squad of four troopers from his company, without orders, upon a Confederate East Cavalry Field position, cutting off and dispersing the enemy to the rear of his column. In August 1864 he mustered out of the Union Army and opened a hardware business in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. In 1898 he was elected as a Democrat to the Pennsylvania State Senate and served as the first Commander of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. He died at the age of 83. His Medal of Honor citation reads: "Without orders, led a charge of his squadron upon the flank of the enemy, checked his attack, and cut off and dispersed the rear of his column."
American Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. He received the award on July 21, 1897 for his actions as a captain who commanded Company H, 3rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, Union Army, on July 3, 1863 at the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The oldest son whose father was a farmer, he received his education in local schools. On August 17, 1861, four months after the outbreak of the American Civil War, he enlisted in the Pennsylvania Volunteer cavalry as a private and was soon made a 2nd lieutenant. In September 1862 he was promoted to the rank of captain and saw action at the Battle of Antietam in Maryland. The following June, his unit linked up with other Union Army forces in preparation to fight Confederate forces under General Robert E. Lee near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in what would become to be known as the historic Battle of Gettysburg (1 through 3 July 1863), one of the main turning points of the War. On the third day of the battle, he led a charge with a squad of four troopers from his company, without orders, upon a Confederate East Cavalry Field position, cutting off and dispersing the enemy to the rear of his column. In August 1864 he mustered out of the Union Army and opened a hardware business in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. In 1898 he was elected as a Democrat to the Pennsylvania State Senate and served as the first Commander of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. He died at the age of 83. His Medal of Honor citation reads: "Without orders, led a charge of his squadron upon the flank of the enemy, checked his attack, and cut off and dispersed the rear of his column."
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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